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spine injury

Many people crack their knuckles on a regular basis and, although the rumors have always been persistent that knuckle cracking could lead to rheumatoid arthritis, no evidence has been found to suggest that. But what about “popping” your back or neck? Is there a chance that popping either of those could lead to a spine condition?

Where does the “pop” come from?

The popping sound heard when cracking your neck or spine is believed to come from the same process that makes your knuckles crack. Joints are surrounded by fluid-filled membranes that act as a lubricant and shock absorber so your bones don’t grind together when you move. The gases in the fluid, most notably nitrogen and carbon dioxide, escape when pressure is applied to the joint, which creates the popping sound.

Can popping your back or neck lead to a spine condition?

Cracking your back once in a while should not be a cause for concern, nor does it mean that you will develop arthritis or a spine condition as a result.

However, that doesn’t mean that habitually popping your back or neck is without risks. When you routinely crack your neck or back, you’re putting yourself at risk for hypermotility, which essentially means your joints, tendons, muscles and ligaments lose elasticity. In addition, the urge to pop your neck or back on a regular basis may be a sign of an underlying condition, which should be examined by a specialist.

The Bottom Line

Although popping your back and neck once in a while may not do you any harm, doing so habitually, or even having the urge to do so frequently, may be a warning sign that something else is going on. Habitually cracking your back could wear out your joints and connective tissue, making them lose elasticity and put you at risk for discomfort or worse, chronic pain. So be sure to keep your popping in check!

During football season, you’ll often hear the same thing from your fantasy football-loving friends: “I can’t believe my player is injured!” As the season for this punishing sport rolls on, so does the potential for damage, at every level of play. We often see patients with injuries similar to those that take your favorite quarterbacks and wide receivers out of the game, some of which we treat with innovative pain management procedures and if needed, minimally invasive spine surgeries, including:

Herniated Discs: You may remember Tony Romo suffering a herniated disc toward the end of the 2013 season. This type of injury can create serious pain and numbness in the lower back and legs. While the traditional surgical method requires stripping away back muscles and exposing the spine, we perform minimally invasive spine surgery, which is much less traumatic and avoids damaging muscles and surrounding tissues. Instead, the procedure often involves the use of real time X-rays and the insertion of a small tube system through a 3-7mm incision. Through minimally invasive spine surgery, patients can recover faster and get back to living.

Finger Fractures: Dez Bryant delayed treatment for his pinkie fracture for three games in the 2012-2013 season. Putting off finger fracture treatment is something you should never do. A fractured finger may seem like a small thing, but in reality it can be a complex injury. There are many bones in the hand that work together to perform specialized tasks, so an injury to one of them can cause the entire hand to be misaligned. Usually, fractured fingers can be repaired non-surgically using a splint, but in particularly bad cases surgery is required to promote and allow for proper healing.

Torn Meniscus: This is one of the most common sports injuries. When he landed awkwardly after a jump during this season opener, Jadeveon Clowney tore a meniscus, taking him out for four to six weeks. When one is torn, a person can experience pain, stiffness, swelling and the knee “giving way.” Similar to our minimally invasive spine surgery, we treat torn menisci using minimally invasive knee arthroscopy by inserting a tiny camera through a small incision to provide a clear view inside of the knee. Once inside, the surgeon repairs or trims the tears using state-of-the-art instruments and techniques.

Whiplash: This happens when an impact or blow causes the head to jerk forward or backward abruptly. Jay Cutler was forced to take some time out when he suffered this injury in 2012. A person suffering from whiplash has pain and stiffness in the neck and often in the muscles of the head, chest, shoulders and arms. For whiplash pain, we use real-time X-rays to map out pain trigger points, letting the doctors know exactly where to apply medicine.

Football players can benefit from minimally invasive surgery, but so can the rest of us! MISI is the most advanced option for treating spine, hand, foot and general pain. Call the Minimally Invasive Surgical Institute today at 855-466-6741 or visit our website to set up an appointment.